Who is running for Kansas House, District 37 in 2026?
Here are the candidates for Kansas House, District 37 on the November 3, 2026 ballot. This race is on the ballot for voters in Kansas House District 37.
Positions come only from each candidate's own votes, official actions, statements and questionnaire answers, never from party labels. Every item links to its source.
Side by side
Each candidate's position on the issues this office handles, from their own record. Details and sources are in each profile below.
| Issue | Connie Jo HenryRepublican | Melissa M. OropezaDemocrat |
|---|---|---|
| Healthcare | No public position | Keep the Affordable Care Act and fix what is brokenOfficial action · medium |
| Abortion | Illegal, except to save the mother's life or in cases of rape or incestSaid · low | No public position |
| Guns | No public position | Add universal background checks and red-flag lawsOfficial action · medium |
| Curriculum and books | Parents, including the right to remove material they object toSaid · medium | No public position |
| Drug prices | No public position | Focus on competition, generics, and price transparency instead of price settingVoted · low |
| Paid leave | No public position | Create a national paid family and medical leave program plus paid sick daysOfficial action · medium |
| DEI programs | Ban DEI offices and required training at public institutionsSaid · low | No public position |
Connie Jo Henry
RepublicanRegistered nurse; Republican nominee, Kansas House District 37
Connie Jo Henry is the Republican candidate for Kansas House District 37 and faces Democratic incumbent Melissa Oropeza on Nov. 3, 20262. Her campaign site says she is a registered nurse with more than 20 years as a director of nursing, was lead nurse at the Ford Claycomo plant and directed home care at Midland Hospice1. Her site lists "Do No Harm" in healthcare and reproductive rights, empowering parents in education and traditional family values as priorities1.
Where they stand 3 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
Curriculum and booksParents, including the right to remove material they object tomedium
Said · medium confidence- Her Issues page says "Parents should have control over the curriculum that is taught to the students. The school should be under subjection to the parents, not the parents to the school." (2026) source
AbortionIllegal, except to save the mother's life or in cases of rape or incestlow
Said · low confidence- Her Issues page says "You have the right to reproduce, you do not, however, have the right to kill," and that "A child in its mother’s womb is alive and can be killed." (2026) source
DEI programsBan DEI offices and required training at public institutionslow
Said · low confidence- Her Issues page, in its education section, says "Remove DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) from curriculum and professional development." (2026) source
No public position found on: Safety net programs, Minimum wage, Business regulation, Healthcare, Guns, Immigration, Energy and climate, School choice, Housing and growth, Policing and crime, Election rules, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Marijuana, Gender care for minors, Redistricting, Term limits, Campaign finance, Electoral College, Ranked-choice voting, Death penalty, Qualified immunity, Mandatory minimums, Drug prices, Childcare and pre-K, Paid leave, Student loans, AI regulation, Kids online, School vaccines, Nuclear power, E-Verify mandate, Transgender athletes, Religion in schools, China policy.
Melissa M. Oropeza
Democrat · IncumbentKansas state representative (District 37, Kansas City, Kansas); nurse practitioner; ranking minority member, Social Services Budget
Melissa Oropeza, a Democrat, has represented Kansas House District 37 in Kansas City, Kansas since 2023 and lists her occupation as nurse practitioner1. She is the ranking minority member of the Social Services Budget committee1. She faces Republican Connie Jo Henry on Nov. 3, 20262.
Where they stand 4 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
HealthcareKeep the Affordable Care Act and fix what is brokenmedium
Official action · medium confidence- Is a named sponsor of HB 2600 (2026), which expands Medicaid eligibility to 138 percent of the federal poverty level. (2026) source
Paid leaveCreate a national paid family and medical leave program plus paid sick daysmedium
Official action · medium confidenceGunsAdd universal background checks and red-flag lawsmedium
Official action · medium confidence- Is a named original sponsor of HB 2245 (2023), the gun violence restraining order act, which lets courts bar certain people from having firearms. (2023) source
Drug pricesFocus on competition, generics, and price transparency instead of price settinglow
Voted · low confidence- Voted yes on the SB 20 (2026) conference report, the pharmacy benefit manager act (House 104 to 17). (2026-03-23) source
No public position found on: Safety net programs, Minimum wage, Business regulation, Abortion, Immigration, Energy and climate, School choice, Curriculum and books, Housing and growth, Policing and crime, Election rules, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Marijuana, Gender care for minors, Redistricting, Term limits, Campaign finance, Electoral College, Ranked-choice voting, Death penalty, Qualified immunity, Mandatory minimums, Childcare and pre-K, Student loans, AI regulation, Kids online, School vaccines, Nuclear power, E-Verify mandate, Transgender athletes, DEI programs, Religion in schools, China policy.
Last reviewed 2026-10-07. Spotted something wrong? Every claim links to its source so you can check it yourself.